The panel was reacting to a New York Times column, in which Joe Nocera called Ryan one of the few conservatives who is serious about shrinking federal government and the budget deficit. He said that his place on the GOP ticket will finally open up a "real debate" about the issue.

Co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough appeared to agree with Nocera's assessment. Contributor Mark Halperin said that the Romney campaign seemed unprepared for the fight, adding that he did not expect Romney to take Ryan's budget plan on.

He said that Romney's choice seemed to elicit a positive response, but recent editorials reminded him that the campaign has a lot to prove about Ryan's budget plan.

Scarborough said part of the problem was the media's portrayal of the Ryan pick. "Most people in the media are Democrats... are liberal... have a propensity towards big government and... believe that if you believe that if you talk about any centralized program from the centralized state, that it's their responsibility to find the three people in America that's going to hurt... then yea, I think that causes problems for the Paul Ryan pick."

He said that Romney had to come out and make that point to the American people. "You can't go halfway against this Chicago team. You can't. They're gonna try to kill you," Scarborough said, directing his message to Romney. "You either lean in and fight hard or go back to Lake Winnipesaukee. Fight or go home."